On April 27, Matisse, a young boy full of life, was brutally stabbed in Châteauroux. His death plunged the city into mourning and turmoil. Quickly, a suspect, Rahman M., a minor at the time of the events, is arrested and indicted for intentional homicide. It was then that a wave of hatred fell on a former magistrate of the Châteauroux judicial court, wrongly accused of having released the suspect in the context of previous cases, relates The Parisian.
These accusations, relayed on social networks by Internet users often close to the extreme right, are, however, completely unfounded. The former magistrate never had to deal with the files concerning Rahman M. and therefore never made a decision concerning him. However, the rumor grows, fueled by malevolent spirits who exploit this drama to spread hateful and xenophobic messages.
The Bourges public prosecutor’s office is stepping up to the plate in the face of threats received
Faced with this unacceptable situation, the Bourges public prosecutor’s office could not remain silent. In a scathing press release, the first president of the Court of Appeal, Alain Vanzo, and the Prosecutor General of the Court of Appeal, Éric Maillaud, strongly denounced these unjustified attacks and recalled the respect due to justice and its representatives. “We can only be outraged by the fact, in defiance of the law which represses all forms of threats and hatred online and in the anonymity provided by the Internet and social networks, to violently criticize the legitimate action of magistrates which, in strict compliance with the texts and international commitments of France, only consider the incarceration of a young minor who commits crimes – whatever their origin – with the legitimate caution that everyone has the right to to wait for“, they said.
The Bourges public prosecutor’s office also recalled that the suspect in Matisse’s murder could not be detained at the time of the events, in accordance with the law applicable to minors. He also called for calm and respect, emphasizing the importance of not spreading false information and not giving in to hate speech.
What are the penalties for perpetrators of cyberharassment and death threats?
Cyberbullying is defined as harassing a person through an electronic communications network, especially the Internet. It can take different forms, such as sending insulting or threatening messages, posting humiliating photos or videos, or spreading false information. Article 222-6-1 of the Penal Code punishes cyberharassment one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros. The penalty is increased to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros if the harassment led the victim to commit suicide or attempt suicide.
Death threats are also punishable by law. Article 227-15 of the Penal Code punishes death threats one year’s imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros. The penalty is brought to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros if the threats were made against a person entrusted with a public service mission, like a policeman or a magistrate. It is important to note that these penalties can be increased in the event of aggravating circumstances, such as the commission of the offenses repeatedly or the use of a particular means of communication, such as the Internet.
